Freedom Fountain brings watery finale to Memorial Day activities

Jamie Heiss gyrated with exuberance Monday night near the water at Huneke Park.

The 7-year-old girl was enjoying, with reckless abandon, the waning moments before the lighting of the Freedom Fountain, which drew several hundred patrons to the park.

Then, like a fantastic present coming unwrapped, the trio of fountains in the center of the park's lagoon spewed an array of red, white and blue light.

It was an anticipated moment, but one that left the crowd silent. It even rendered Jamie immobile.

"Wow," she said with wide eyes. "That's neat."

The fountain will be lit nightly and looks to boost the patriotism of Lubbock and the surrounding community. Mon day's ceremony was a catalyst for that, as patrons were wowed by rousing stanzas of patriotic songs and an address by Mayor Marc McDougal.

"Generals are always encouraged to participate in events of this sort," Murphy said. "It's an honor. As the old saying goes, 'freedom isn't free.' This fountain will remind Americans that all gave some, and some gave all."

The fountain was the brainchild of four women  Gertie Jeter, Civic Lubbock Inc. financial officer; Penny Mason, Keep Lubbock Beautiful board chairwoman; Karen Malouf, immediate past president of Keep Lubbock Beautiful, and Phyllis Jones, chairwoman of the Lubbock Parks and Recreation Advisory Board  who all shared the same sentiments in light of the terrorist attacks on the nation.

"The attacks of Sept. 11 did a lot," Jones said. "We felt this was a time for the community to unite. And we needed something to make that happen."

Jones says that planning for the project began in Decem ber, spurred by encouragement from Keep America Beautiful and local veterans. Huneke Park was chosen as the site because of the amount of traffic that bypasses the park.

The four women, backed by their respective organizations, all worked together to plan and implement the fountain to demonstrate patriotism.

Jones said the payoff for her colleagues' efforts was evident even before the fountain's official lighting ceremony.

"We lit it one night just to test it," she said. "And this couple stopped and sat on their car and just watched. And that's what it's about. It's a symbol to remind us of our freedom."